Friday, December 1, 2017

Venice Holiday Kick Off!

And just like that, the holidays are upon us! It's hard to tell here in Venice ... bright sunshine and warm breezes make you wonder what time of the year it is every day. Then you take your morning walk and are greeted by a gigantic reindeer in the Windward Circle, and you know that it's time to deck the halls!

This whole weekend is going to be full of the festive fun that Christmas time brings to all the girls and boys. Tonight is First Friday (blah) if you can handle it, but then tomorrow is one of my favorite Venice events of the year, the Venice Sign lighting! Festivities begin at 6:00 pm, with the sign going red and green for the holidays at 8:00 pm, and partying everywhere all after that. It's one of the cutest, most small town community vibe, Bedford Falls-y thing we do, and I just love it. I hope to see all of O.G. Venice there, with jingle bells on!

The Yuletide frolicking continues on Sunday, when snow falls on Abbot Kinney for the Holiday Stroll. The kids get to sled in The Brig parking lot, another highlight of the year, complete with Santa visits, crafts, carolers, and more of bumping into friends from the neighborhood. It too is adorable.

The holidays can be crazy and stressful and emotional and way too busy, but it really is the most wonderful time of the year (Ok, after Summer, says your 2017 Venice Neptune Queen or I'd be forced to abdicate!). Hearts are warmed and so much fun is to be had. I got a great piece of advice this morning from the French Market's Agnes Martinez, that works for this, or any time of the year ... "Peace your mind." Yes. Whenever it all gets to be too much, take a deep breath and peace that mind of yours. Reminding that once again, the most important part of the holidays is to truly wish for Peace On Earth.